3 ms·

> to a modern standard We let perfect be the enemy of good a lot here. Environmental regs, construction standards, and the ADA bring a lot of benefits but they

> to a modern standard We let perfect be the enemy of good a lot here. Environmental regs, construction standards, and the ADA bring a lot of benefits but they've made it so there's so such thing as a minor project anymore.

MAGZine 5y ago
Sort of... there's still a lot of horse trading that goes on in getting things approved for build. sometimes they build things that aren't perfectly specced, but are acceptable, especially if you're willing to go above and beyond in other areas which might be easier for you to accomplish. but yes, overall, codes become more complicated and it gets harder to build. the quality is better, but it is slower. one of my old coworkers started a startup to help people navigate codes faster and understand the specifications, which in of itself can be a hindrance wrt the permitting process (though that's only one part of construction).
- letitbeirie 5y ago
  I'm sure your old colleague is raking it in. The permitting and environmental review system was put into place with the best of intentions but it's a hot mess now. We definitely don't want to set anyone like Robert Moses [0] loose with a bulldozer again but the system in place now makes it difficult and expensive to build anything, even critical infrastructure. Example: A dredge hit the only bridge to Hatteras Island in 1990, leading to its temporary closure and planned replacement in the early-mid 1990s. Despite the fact that the soon-reopened, damaged span had a safety rating of 4/100, an environmental non-profit was able to delay the opening of its replacement until 2019. [1] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Moses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Moses [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Inlet#Herbert_C._Bonner_Bridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Inlet#Herbert_C._Bonner...

3 ms·

> to a modern standard We let perfect be the enemy of good a lot here. Environmental regs, construction standards, and the ADA bring a lot of benefits but they

by letitbeirie 5y ago

MAGZine 5y ago
Sort of... there's still a lot of horse trading that goes on in getting things approved for build. sometimes they build things that aren't perfectly specced, but are acceptable, especially if you're willing to go above and beyond in other areas which might be easier for you to accomplish. but yes, overall, codes become more complicated and it gets harder to build. the quality is better, but it is slower. one of my old coworkers started a startup to help people navigate codes faster and understand the specifications, which in of itself can be a hindrance wrt the permitting process (though that's only one part of construction).
- letitbeirie 5y ago
  I'm sure your old colleague is raking it in. The permitting and environmental review system was put into place with the best of intentions but it's a hot mess now. We definitely don't want to set anyone like Robert Moses [0] loose with a bulldozer again but the system in place now makes it difficult and expensive to build anything, even critical infrastructure. Example: A dredge hit the only bridge to Hatteras Island in 1990, leading to its temporary closure and planned replacement in the early-mid 1990s. Despite the fact that the soon-reopened, damaged span had a safety rating of 4/100, an environmental non-profit was able to delay the opening of its replacement until 2019. [1] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Moses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Moses [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Inlet#Herbert_C._Bonner_Bridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Inlet#Herbert_C._Bonner...